From social media and reviews to book clubs, signings, and readings, and even digital versus audio and print, Jennifer Vance, Marketing Director of Books Forward, discusses book trends for 2025 and shares marketing and PR advice for new and established authors.

Founded by Julie Schoerke as JKS Communications, this year Books Forward is celebrating 25 years of excellence in book marketing and promotion, with over 1,000 authors entrusting their team to advance their writing careers. Since day one, Big Blend Magazines & Radio has proudly reviewed and interviewed authors they represent. Learn more here: https://booksforward.com/

If you could thank someone or something who inspired you career-wise, who or what would it be, and why? This episode of Big Blend Radio celebrates National Thank You Month and International Creativity Month with hosts Nancy J. Reid & Lisa Smith, the mother-daughter team behind Big Blend Magazines.

FEATURED GUESTS - JOHNNY SCHAEFER: Award-winning singer-songwriter and founder of the Gratitude Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gratefulones * Hear Johnny's song "Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella": https://youtu.be/sSW7-lf5-W4?feature=shared * Visit: https://hearjohnny.com/

- EVA ELDRIDGE: Writer, editor, and publishing expert. * Eva's "Fort Windy" article: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/jxdy/#p=36 * Visit: https://evaeldridge.com/

- ELAINE A. POWERS: A retired biologist, actor and singer, a conservationist with a passion for reptiles, and author of over 25 science-based children’s stories and scripts. Visit: https://elaineapowers.com/

GRATITUDE RELATED ARTICLES & PODCASTS: - What Are You Grateful For? https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/what-are-you-grateful-for/ - The Benefits of Giving: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/the-benefits-of-giving/ - The Gifts of Gratitude: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/the-gifts-of-gratitude/ - The Power of Gratitude: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/the-power-of-gratitude/ - How Gratitude Can Build Trust: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/how-gratitude-builds-trust/ - Showing Sincere Appreciation in the Workplace: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/showing-sincere-appreciation-in-the-workplace/

Featuring Lance Laber, Executive Director of the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, this episode of Big Blend Radio focuses on the new exhibits featuring southwest artist Ted DeGrazia.

New exhibits at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun include "Ted DeGrazia in the Studio of Diego Rivera" (Jan. 31 - Sept. 3, 2025), “Louise Serpa's Portraits of Ted DeGrazia” (Jan. 31 - Sept. 3, 2025), and “The Way of the Cross” (Jan. 31 - May 28, 2025). The Little Gallery is also host to visiting artists from now through April 4, 2025.

Also hear about the exhibit "Bisbee Through the Eyes of Ted DeGrazia" on display at the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum and the Muheim Heritage House, in Bisbee AZ, through May 26, 2025.

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is a 10-acre historic landmark nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona. Opened in 1965, it is home to over 15,000 originals of Ted DeGrazia art pieces including oil paintings, watercolors, ceramics and sculptures. There are six permanent collections on display and several rotating exhibitions each year. More: http://www.degrazia.org/

This Big Blend Radio "Tales of Ted DeGrazia" podcast airs every 4th Sunday. Follow the show here: https://ted-degrazia.podbean.com/

Whether it's a special live performance or joint recording, two artists coming together can often take creativity to a new height. Celebrate International Creativity Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Show with musician Joey Stuckey who chats about noteworthy musical duos and duets, along with his upcoming trip to the Annual Grammy Awards and NAMM show. The conversation also focuses on ways to support those affected by the recent LA Fires (links below).

CHECK OUT: - Double Trouble Music Playlist on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/6nxvth6s - MusiCares: https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirerelief - Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/donate

Co-host of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Show every 4th Sunday, Joey Stuckey ‪is known as the Music Ambassador of Macon, Georgia "The Southern Rock Capital of the World." He's an award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, and sound engineer. More: https://www.joeystuckey.com/

Follow the BIG DAILY BLEND Show, here: https://big-daily-blend.podbean.com/

From Sculptors to Stained Glass Designers to Authors and Singer-Songwriters, this episode of Big Blend Radio's WOMEN MAKING HISTORY Podcast Celebrates Women in the World of Arts, as part of January being International Creativity Month.

FEATURED GUESTS: - SHARON K. KURTZ is a travel writer and award-winning photographer. Hear about the folk artist women she met during her recent visit to Peru, and check out her article about it all, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/journeying-through-peru/ * Keep up with Sharon's adventures at https://sharonkkurtz.com/

- VICTORIA CHICK is a contemporary figurative artist, early 19th/20th century print collector, and the spearhead behind the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center in Silver City, New Mexico. Victoria talks about the life and legacy of sculptor Mary Edmonia Lewis. Learn more about Edmonia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonia_Lewis * Keep up with Victoria here: https://victoriachick.com/ * Check out her museum project, here: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/

- CHRISTY WOOD is a world champion horse trainer, a winner in extreme trail obstacle challenges, a carded horse show judge, and author of three books. Hear about her new memoir, "Hoofprints Across Time: A Trail Ride to Remember" that shares her adventures on the 13-year progressive Chief Joseph Trail Ride https://wdnhorse.com/

- KIMBERLY HESS is the author of the biography "A Lesser Mortal: The Unexpected Life of Sarah B. Cochran." Hear about Agnes Northrop (1857-1953), who was a designer at Tiffany specializing in floral stained glass windows. "Garden Landscape," which she designed for Sarah B. Cochran's mansion in Dawson, Pennsylvania, was recently unveiled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - see: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/899795 * Also watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVIouHWPFU * And, keep up with Kimberly here: https://unexpectedlifeofsarahbcochran.com/

- ELAINE A POWERS is a retired biologist, actor and singer, a conservationist with a passion for reptiles, and the author of over 25 science-based children’s stories and scripts. Hear about her writing career and learn more about her books, here: https://elaineapowers.com/

- JOEY STUCKEY is and award-winning blind guitarist, singer, songwriter, composer, producer, educator, sound engineer, and the music ambassador for Macon, Georgia. He spotlights Georgia singer/songwriter Sue G. Wilkinson. hear her music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7ui3Cs15jm1jIoK0Z2wfRL?si=4UD_lzjxRDmLE_jSgBi9JA * Keep up with Joey: https://www.joeystuckey.com/

Big Blend Radio's "Women Making History" Podcast airs new episodes every 4th Wednesday. Follow the show here: https://women-making-history.podbean.com/

This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend" and "Toast to The Arts" channels. Follow Big Blend Radio's Network of Podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

It's all about the historic Petroglyphs of Pony Hills in remote Southwest New Mexico on this episode of Big Blend Radio's WORLD OF ART Podcast with artist Victoria Chick. Read Victoria's article about Pony Hills, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/petroglyphs-of-pony-hills/

Along with a great discussion about the potential meanings and symbolism behind the petroglyphs, we also chat about the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center project that she has spearheaded in local Silver City. More here: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/

Also see her stories and podcasts covering: - Prehistoric Rock Art: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/petroglyphs-prehistoric-rock-art/ - Early Pottery of the Southwest: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/early-pottery-of-the-southwest/

Victoria Chick is a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. Visit: https://victoriachick.com/

Victoria appears on Big Blend Radio every 3rd Saturday. Follow the podcast: https://worldofart-victoriachick.podbean.com/

This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Way Back When," "Toast to The Arts," and "Parks & Travel" Podcast Channels. Check out our network of shows: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

Big Blend Radio is celebrating 18 Years of Podcasting! Join us for this 2nd show of three days of celebrating this birthday milestone with mother-daughter hosts Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith who travel full-time on their Love your Parks Tour while hosting the shows and publishing the digital series of Big Blend Magazines. Hear where and what our guests were up to when they were 18 years old...and, what music they were listening to.

WHAT MUSIC WERE YOU LISTENING TO AT 18? Let us know in the comments, and we'll add it to our special (and growing) playlist on Spotify which you can listen to here: https://tinyurl.com/bdc3d99d

FEATURED MUSICAL GUESTS: - Pierre Bensusan - Acclaimed acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist, and composer. More: https://www.pierrebensusan.com/ - Lisa Sniderman - Singer, songwriter and playwright. More: https://www.aoedemuse.com/

SPECIAL MESSAGES FROM MUSICAL FRIENDS: - Joey Stuckey - Award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, and the official music ambassador for his home town of Macon, Georgia. More: https://www.joeystuckey.com/ - Nicki Kris - Singer, songwriter, and podcaster. More: https://www.nickikris.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show features Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF).

Hear about the organization's unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, and Hawai'i Volcano National Park. Plus, this year's opportunities for park destinations and artists of all genres to be part of their programming.

NPAF is a non-profit offering unique Artist-in-Residence Programs, Museum In-Loan Programs, and Workshops inspired by our National Parks, National Monuments, and World Heritage Sites. NPAF has supported over 300 programs, over 120 artists, and been the conduit for over a million dollars in artwork donations.

Watch for Big Blend Radio's NPAF Retrospective, a digital publication featuring 8 years of podcast interviews with artists and park representatives! Keep up with us by getting our newsletter at https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/join-our-newsletter/

Learn more: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/